Multi-unit bag construction

ABSTRACT

A multi-unit bag construction made up of a plurality of separable units; each unit being capable of functioning as a single bag; together with combination closure and connector means for selectively interconnecting the units to form a single bag of relatively large size and capacity or for separating the individual units to form bags of smaller size.

United States Patent 1191 10/1924 Adams ..190/51 Dean Apr. 10, 1973 1 MULTI-UNIT BAG CONSTRUCTION 2,094,186 9 1937 Patrick ..190/41 2 ux 2,493,506 1 1950 S h b d ..19 4 [76] Inventor: Jesse W. Dean, 3878 Cannon Place, 2,536,169 $1951 c wart: at 0/ IZUX Bronx, NY. 10463 3,061,057 /1962 Miller ..l90/52X [22] Flled: July 1971 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton [21] Appl.No.: 163,147 Attorney-Phi1ip G. Hilbert [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..150/28 R, 150/3, 190/44,

190/52 A muIti-unit bag construction made up of a plurality [51] Int Cl A45: 1/00 of separable units; each unit being capable of func- 58 d R 4 tioning as a single bag; together with combination clo- 1 0 can sure and connector means for selectively intercon- /1.7, 3, 11, 1; /21, 22, 44,45, necting the units to form a single bag of relatively 52, 41 42 large size and capacity or for separating the individual units to form bags of smaller size. [56] References Cited 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS INVENTOR. Jesse W. Dean QQ 5 war ATTORNEY sum 1 or 4 PATENTEUAPR 1 @1975 FIG. 1

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construction embodying the invention;

MULTI-UNIT BAG CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With conventional bag constructions, one must select a bag of either large or small size. In such known constructions a smaller size bag can not be converted to one of larger size, or vice versa.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved bag construction constituted of a plurality of units together with means for separably interconnecting the units to form a bag of a given size and capacity; such interconnecting means being operable to allow for separation of the units and to provide closure means for each unit of relatively smaller size.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a bag construction of the character described, wherein a pair of units are arranged for interconnection in a manner to allow intercommunication of the interior portions of the units; yet being separable to provide individual bag units.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bag construction of the character described, wherein a pair of individual bag units are separably interconnected; the interconnecting means providing access to the interior of the interconnected units; such interconnecting means further providing closure means for each of the separated bag units.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bag construction of the character described, wherein a pair of bag units are arranged with their mouth portions in telescoped relation to allow for communication between the bag units, together with means for interconnecting the mouth portions of the bags yet allowing separation thereof; each bag unit having separable closure means at the opposite ends thereof, whereby said bag units in interconnected or separated form may be used in a variety of fashions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bag construction of the character described, wherein a pair of bag units are arranged for separable interconnection with their interior portions in communication, one of the bag units being closed at one end and open at the other end, the other bag unit being open at opposite ends and being provided with flap means for closing off one end of said other bag unit when the bag unit is to be used separately; the flap means being movable to a position when the bag units are interconnected which allows for communication between the interior portions of the interconnected units.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a multi-unit bag construction which is readily and economically fabricated; and which is easily manipulated by the user to convert the same into larger or smaller bag sizes, as desired.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is afront elevational view of a multi-unit bag FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof; FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof; FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a corner portion of one of the separated bag units;

' FIG. Sis a front elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one of the separated bag units thereof;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is perspective view of one of the separated bag units thereof; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the other separated bag units thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring in detail to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-4, 10 designates a multi-unit' bag construction embodying the invention. The same comprises a pair of similar bag units generally indicated at 11, 12, which may be formed of suitable flexible material such as textile fabric, plastic sheeting or the like.

The units 11', 12 are of similar construction. Thus, unit 11 comprises opposed panels 13, 14 secured together at bottom edges 15 and end edges 16. Similarly, unit 12 comprises opposed panels 13A, 14A secured together at bottom edges 15A and end edges 16A.

The bag units 11, 12 may be used separately or may be separably interconnected to form the single large bag 10. To this end, the bag units 11, 12 are disposed. to locate their mouth portions adjacent each other. A pair of combined connecting and closure means generally indicated at 17 and 18 are provided for interconnecting opposed mouth edges Hand 20 of panels 13, 13A; and opposed-mouth edges 19A, 20A of panels 14, 14A; each means 17, 18 being independently operable.

Accordingly, closure means 17, which is of the slide fastener type, comprises tapes 21, 22 carrying closure elements 23 are secured to mouth edges 19, 19A of panels 13, 13A as at 24, 24A. Similarly, closure means 18 comprising tapes 21A, 22A carrying closure elements 23A, are secured to mouth edges 19A, 20A of panels 14, 14A. Slide fastener closure members 25, 26 of closure means 17, 18 interengage the opposed closure elements 23, 23A respectively. The usual terminal stop means 27, 27A are mounted on tapes 21, 21A respectively. It is understood that the construction of tapes 21, 22; 21A, 22A is such as to allow complete separation of the tape pairs 21, 22; 21A, 22A.

It will be apparent that slide closure members 25, 26. may be operated to interconnect the bag units 11, 12 so as to provide communication between the interior of units 11, 12. Further, either or both closure members 25, 26 may be operated in a manner to partially open bag 10 to the extent desired so as to allow for the insertion or removal of objects into or from bag 10.

Further means for access to the interior of bag 10 is provided, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4. Thus, split top edges 28, 28A of units 11, 12, respectively are provided with opposed fastener element carrying tapes 29, 29A with slide fastener closure means C, C slidably interconnecting the same. Thus,'with units 11, 12 fully interconnec'ted by closure members 25, 26, members C, C may member may be used to slidably interconnect the fastener elements 23, 23A on tapes 21, 21A to provide closure means for bag 11; while closure member 26 may be used to slidably interconnect fastener elements 23, 23A on tapes 22, 22A to provide closure means for bag 12.

In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 5, 6; bag 10A comprises a pair of similar bag units 30, 31 which may be formed of textile fabric, plastic sheeting or the like.

Unit 30 comprises a pair of opposed panels 32, 33 which are stitched together along their side edges 34, and have unattached edges 36, 37; 38, 39 at the opposite ends thereof. Panels 32, 33 are separably secured together along a line spaced inwardly of edges 36, 37 by slide fastener tapes respectively stitched to panels 32, 33. Tapes 40 carry the usual fastener elements 42 which are interengaged by slide closure member 43.

Laterally spaced grommeted openings 47 are formed adjacent edges 36, 37 of panels 32, 33 for receiving a lacing strand 48, for the purpose later described.

Bag unit 31 is similar to bag unit 30, being made up of panels 32A, 33 stitched along their side edges 34A, 35A and having unattached end edges 36A, 37A; and 38A, 39A, at the opposite ends thereof. The panels 32A, 33A are separably interconnected by slide fastener tapes 40A respectively stitched to the panels inwardly of edges 36A, 37A and carry fastener elements 42A which are interconnected by slide closure member 43A.

Bag unit 31 also has laterally spaced grommeted openings 47A adjacent edges 36A, 37A of panels 32A, 33A. Bag units 30, 31 are adapted to be separably interconnected so that their interiors are in communication. Accordingly, the mouth portion of bag unit 30 is telescoped within the mouth portion of bag unit 31; with the respective grommetted openings 47, 47A in registry. The lacing strand 48 may then be passed peripherally through the registering openings 47, 47A to interconnect the bag units 30, 31. Upon separating bag units 30, 31 by removing lacing 48; the individual bag units may be separately closed by threading lacing 48 through oppoesd openings 47 and 47A.

Each of the bag units 30, 31 may be provided with slide fastener closure means adjacent the edges 38, 39; 38A, 39A thereof. Thus, opposed slide fastener tapes 50 carrying fastener elements 52 are stitched to panels 32, 33 adjacent edges 38, 39 thereof and are interconnected by slide closure member 53. Similarly, tapes 50A carrying fastener elements 52A are stitched to panels 32, 32A and are interconnected by slide closure member 53A.

It will be apparent that bag 10A may be used in a variety of ways. With bag units 30, 31 interconnected by lacing strand 48; closure members 43, 43A may be operated to provide communication between bag units 30, 31. The closure member 53A is then operated to close the bottom of bag unit 31, thus allowing closure member 53 to be in its open position. The bag 10A now has units 30, 31 in communication.

Alternatively, with units 30, 31 interconnected, both of the closure members 43, 43A may be operated to their closure positions, providing a pair of separated bag units 30, 31 having respective access by way of closure members 53, 53A for independent usage.

Also, the bag units 30, 31 may be separated from each other by withdrawing lacing strand 48 from openings 47, 47A in the respective units. Thus, the bags 40, 31 may be used independently and with appropriate usage of the closure members 43, 53; and 43A, 53A.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7-9, wherein bag 10B comprises a pair of bag units 60, 61 arranged for separable interconnection. Bag unit 60 comprises a pair of opposed panels 62, 63 of flexible material such as plastic sheeting, fabric or the like; which are stitched together along bottom edge 64 and side edges 65, 66. A single slide fastener tape 67 is stitched about the opposed edges 68, 69 of panels 62, 63, said tape carrying fastener elements 70.

Bag unit 61 comprises a pair of opposed panels 71, 72 secured together along their side edges 73, 74 by stitching or the like. The bag unit 61 is open at opposite ends having transverse pairs of edges 75, 76; 77, 78. A single slide fastener tape 79 is stitched about edges 75, 76 and carries fastener elements 80 with a slide fastener closure member 81 for interengaging elements 80. With elements of unit 60, thereby interconnecting bag units 60, 61, to form the single bag 1013.

Closure member 81 also may be operated to separate bag units 60, 61 for independent usage. In the case of bag unit 60, closure means for the same may be provided in the form of coacting snaps 82, 83 located on inner surface portionsof panels 62, 63 adjacent edges 68, 69 thereof.

With separated bag unit 61, a flexible flap member 85 is provided for connection about its periphery to edges 75, 76 of unit 61. Member 85 has a single fastener tape 86 carrying fastener elements 87, stitched about the periphery thereof. With flap member 85 juxtaposed to panel edges 75,76; fastener elements 87 are interconnected to fastener elements by closure member 81, to complete unit 61.

Flap member is secured to unit 61 by stitching at a single point 88 at the lower portion of side edge 74. When bag unit 61 is connected to bag unit 60; the flap member 85, being disconnected from panels 71, 72 by operation of closure member 81 except at stitch point 88, may be displaced to a position within bag unit wherein the same lies flat against the inner surface of one of the panels 71, 72, to thereby allow free communication between bag units 61, 60.

Bag unit 61 may be provided with suitable closure means at edges 77, 78 thereof by a flap 90 stitched to panel 72 and extending over panel 71 for connection thereto by a turnable latch type fastener 91 received in grommetted opening 92 formed in the free end of flap 90.

[claims 1. A bag construction comprising a pair of bag units, means for separably interconnecting the peripheral mouth portion of one bag unit to the peripheral mouth portion of the other bag unit to provide for communication between the interior portions of said bag units, said interconnecting means including means for closing the mouth portion of one bag unit and means for closing the mouth portion of the other bag unit.

2. A bag construction as in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting means comprises slide fastener elements mounted on the peripheral mouth portion of each of said bag units and slide fastener closure means for engagement with said fastener elements.

3. A bag construction as in claim 2, wherein tape means carrying said fastener elements is mounted on opposed peripheral mouth portions of one bag unit and tape means carrying said fastener elements is mounted on opposed peripheral portions of the other bag unit, said slide fastener closure means comprising one slide fastener closure member interconnecting slide fastener elements on both of said tape means and a second slide fastener closure member interconnecting slide fastener elements onboth of said tape means.

4. A bag construction as in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises laterally related openingsalong the mouth edge portion of each bag unit, said bag units being arranged with their mouth edge portions in telescoped relation, and the openings on one bag unit being in registry with the openings on the other bag unit, and lacing means threadable through said registering openings for interconnecting the peripheral mouth portions of said bag units, said lacing means being removable to separate said bag units and then threadable through openings in one of said bag units to form a closure therefor.

5. A bag construction as in claim 4 wherein each bag unit has outermost transverse edge portions in separated relation, and means for separably connecting said outermost transverse edge portions of each bag unit.

6. A bag construction comprising a pair of bag units, each unit having side edges and at least one set of transversely extending opposed edge portions for gaining access to the interior thereof, means for separably interconnecting the transverse edge portions of one bag unit to the transverse edge portions. of the other bag unit about the periphery of said edge portions to provide for communication between the interiors of said bag units, and means for closing at least one set of transverse edge portions of each bag unit to provide a closed bottom edge for each of said separated bag units.

7. A bag construction as in claim 6 wherein one bag unit has one set of opposed transverse edge portions, and the other bag unit has two sets of opposed transverse edge portions at the opposite ends thereof respectively, said interconnecting means connecting the one set of opposed transverse edge portions of said one bag unit with one of the two sets of respectively opposed transverse edge portions of the other bag unit; said other bag unit including a movable flap member for disposition with the peripheral edge thereof adjacent the opposed edge portions of said one of the two sets of transverse edge portions, and means on the peripheral edge of said flap member and the opposed edge portions of the one of the two sets of transverse edge portions for separable connection by said interconnecting means.

8, A bag construction as in claim 6, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a pair of slide fastener tapes secured to the transverse opposed edge portions of each bag unit, and a pair of slide fastener members for respectively interconnecting the slide fastener tapes of one bag unit with the corresponding and adjacent slide fastener tapes of the other bag unit, one of said pair of slide fastener members being operable upon separation of said bag units from each other, to interconnect the pair of slide fastener tapes of one bag unit to provide closure means therefor; the other of said pair of slide fastener members being operable to interconnect the pair of slide fastener tapes of the other bag unit to provide closure meanstherefor.

9. A bag construction as in claim 6, wherein said bag units are arranged with one set of transverse opposed edges of one bag unit in telescoped relation to one set of transverse opposed edges of the other bag unit, said bag units having a series of laterally spaced openings along the transverse edge portions of each bag unit, said interconnecting means comprising lacing means selectively threadable through successive sets of registering openings in the telescoped edge portions of said bags or threadable through opposed registering openings in the opposed transverse edge portions of each of the separated bag units to form closure means therefor.

i i i 

1. A bag construction comprising a pair of bag units, means for separably interconnecting the peripheral mouth portion of one bag unit to the peripheral mouth portion of the other bag unit to provide for communication between the interior portions of said bag units, said interconnecting means including means for closing the mouth portion of one bag unit and means for closing the mouth portion of the other bag unit.
 2. A bag construction as in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting means comprises slide fastener elements mounted on the peripheral mouth portion of each of said bag units and slide fastener closure means for engagement with said fastener elements.
 3. A bag construction as in claim 2, wherein tape means carrying said fastener elements is mounted on opposed peripheral mouth portions of one bag unit and tape means carrying said fastener elements is mounted on opposed peripheral portions of the other bag unit, said slide fastener closure means comprising one slide fastener closure member interconnecting slide fastener elements on both of said tape means and a second slide fastener closure member interconnecting slide fastener elements on both of said tape means.
 4. A bag construction as in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises laterally related openings along the mouth edge portion of each bag unit, said bag units being arranged with their mouth edge portions in telescoped relation and the openings on one bag unit being in registry with the openings on the other bag unit, and lacing means threadable through said registering openings for interconnecting the peripheral mouth portions of said bag units, said lacing means being removable to separate said bag units and then threadable through openings in one of said bag units to form a closure therefor.
 5. A bag construction as in claim 4 wherein each bag unit has outermost transverse edge portions in separated relation, and means for separably connecting said outermost transverse edge portions of each bag unit.
 6. A bag construction comprising a pair of bag units, each unit having side edges and at least one set of transversely extending opposed edge portions for gaining access to the interior thereof, means for separably interconnecting the transverse edge portions of one bag unit to the transverse edge portions of the other bag unit about the periphery of said edge portions to provide for communication between the interiors of said bag units, and means for closing at least one set of transverse edge portions of each bag unit to provide a closed bottom edge for each of said separated bag units.
 7. A bag construction as in claim 6 wherein one bag unit has one set of opposed transverse edge portions, and thE other bag unit has two sets of opposed transverse edge portions at the opposite ends thereof respectively, said interconnecting means connecting the one set of opposed transverse edge portions of said one bag unit with one of the two sets of respectively opposed transverse edge portions of the other bag unit; said other bag unit including a movable flap member for disposition with the peripheral edge thereof adjacent the opposed edge portions of said one of the two sets of transverse edge portions, and means on the peripheral edge of said flap member and the opposed edge portions of the one of the two sets of transverse edge portions for separable connection by said interconnecting means.
 8. A bag construction as in claim 6, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a pair of slide fastener tapes secured to the transverse opposed edge portions of each bag unit, and a pair of slide fastener members for respectively interconnecting the slide fastener tapes of one bag unit with the corresponding and adjacent slide fastener tapes of the other bag unit, one of said pair of slide fastener members being operable upon separation of said bag units from each other, to interconnect the pair of slide fastener tapes of one bag unit to provide closure means therefor; the other of said pair of slide fastener members being operable to interconnect the pair of slide fastener tapes of the other bag unit to provide closure means therefor.
 9. A bag construction as in claim 6, wherein said bag units are arranged with one set of transverse opposed edges of one bag unit in telescoped relation to one set of transverse opposed edges of the other bag unit, said bag units having a series of laterally spaced openings along the transverse edge portions of each bag unit, said interconnecting means comprising lacing means selectively threadable through successive sets of registering openings in the telescoped edge portions of said bags or threadable through opposed registering openings in the opposed transverse edge portions of each of the separated bag units to form closure means therefor. 